Report: Tigers will be on the hook for $15 million in pay raises in 2013

The Detroit Tigers have nine arbitration eligible players heading into 2013 — the deals get done in January — and MLBTR predicts their salaries will jump a collective $15.4 million.

That assumes all nine will return. It's likely Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly will be playing elsewhere next season, and in any case MLBTR estimated they'd see no salary change for 2013.

Here are the player's projected salary with his current salary and the difference in parenthesis:

• Max Scherzer (P): $7.5 million ($3.75 million, +$3.75 million)

• Rick Porcello (P): $4.7 million ($3.1 million, +$1.6 million)

• Doug Fister (P): $3.8 million ($507,500, +$3,292,500)

• Austin Jackson (OF): $3.1 million ($500,000, +$2.6 million)

• Alex Avila (C): $2.5 million ($510,000, +$1,990,000)

• Brennan Boesch (OF): $2.1 million ($502,500, +$1,597,500)

• Ryan Raburn (IF): $2.1 million (no change)

• Phil Coke (RP): $1.7 million ($1.1 million, +$600,000)

• Don Kelly (OF): $900,000 (no change)

The team will shave nearly $16 million in payroll by not signing closer Jose Valverde ($9 million) and designated hitter Delmon Young ($6.75 million). General Manager Dave Dombrowski told reporters on Tuesday that the team planns to let the free agents find jobs elsewhere.

Backup catcher Gerald Laird and his $1 million salary may also be allowed to walk.

However, Dombrowski also said the team plans to try to retain free-agent starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who's going to command more than the $8 million he was paid in 2012. He could see $12 million to $15 million, but it's unknown how much the Tigers will be willing to pay for him.

Sanchez is coming off one-year contract. His performance with Detroit was basically an audition for potential suitors.

The Tigers picked up a pro-rated portion of his salary this season after trading for him, along with second baseman Omar Infante, in a July deal with the Miami Marlins in exchange for several minor leaguers.

Sanchez, 28, was 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 regular-season starts in Detroit, and in the playoffs was 1-2 with a 1.77 ERA over 20.1 innings in three starts. He allowed four runs on four hits with five walks and 18 strikeouts in those three games.

Detroit also will be on the market for another outfielder — do they make a run at slugger Josh Hamilton, who's likely going to want $18 million or more a season on a multi-year deal? — along with a veteran closer and some middle relief.

The Tigers have options, such has packing Porcello in a trade, to pick up talent without significantly adding salary. But they are going to add to their payroll, certainly. They added $1 million on Tuesday when the team exercised the 2013 options on right-handed relief pitcher Octavio Dotel and shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

Peralta has a $6 million option coming off a two-year, $11.25 million contract that paid him $5.5 million last season. Dotel's 2013 option is $3.5 million. He had a one-year, $3 million deal last season. The club would have paid $500,000 to each if it didn't exercise their options.

With the long-term deals given to Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Justin Verlander, Detroit is one of the elite spending teams in baseball, and there's no reason to believe they're going to get thrifty until 83-year-old owner Mike Ilitch gets the World Series title he covets.

So what will Detroit's payroll look like in 2013? On Opening Day this year, it was $134 million (which includes pro-rated signing bonuses and comes via Baseball Prospectus).

Instinct tells me it'll be at least that much again next season, perhaps a $15 million or even $20 million more if they add Hamilton (how good will his bat look in the lineup along with a healthy Victor Martinez?) and a marquee free-agent closer.

UPDATE: The Tigers announced this afternoon that Kelly's contract has been out-righted to Triple-A Toledo, and that he's opted for free agency. So there's $900K off the books for 2013.

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